Rae's groundbreaking debut album helped to bring the flavour of flossing to wax as well as the use of the moniker among Wu brethren and other prominent emcees. The single "Verbal Intercourse" featured the first appearance of Nas Escobar, Nas' alter ego. Similarly, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, who served as Rae's partner in rhyme throughout the entire Cuban Linx album, also developed a slew of other identities. Identities like Lex Diamond, one of the flashy, witty and intellectually stimulating personas of the multifaceted Raekwon.
In the years after the release of Cuban Linx, Raekwon continued to record several albums with the Clan including the platinum Wu-Tang Forver (1997) and The W (2000), as well as the gold Iron Flag (2001). He also starred in the critically acclaimed film Black and White, before releasing his second solo album, Immobilarity in 1999. Four years later, it's time for another masterpiece from Raekwon.
The Lex Diamond Story, Raekwon's forthcoming third solo album is that desperately needed effort. This new LP is as much a reflection of his first musical triumph Cuban Linx, as it is a manifestation of the future and what is to come from this great emcee. Raekwon is like the E.F. Hutton of hip-hop: when he speaks, everyone listens. The current void in hip-hop is filled with this rap veteran's
crafty verbal gymnastics and artistic form of storytelling. The Lex Diamond Story takes the top shelf elements of the Wu's first album and the finest sentiments of Raekwon's debut and joins them together to deliver another classic album to the masses.
A lyrical gourmet meal, The Lex Diamond Story shows that The Chef still possesses the recipe to cook up a jambalaya of words with the main ingredient being superior skills. Animated and intense, Raekwon's stealth delivery is filled with emotion, skilled cadence and an array of diverse stories, hooks, and topics. The track, "All Over Again (The Way We Were)" touches on the flavour of "Can It Be All So Simple" with its tale of street survival. Meanwhile, "Pit Bull Fights" is reminiscent of the ferocious lyrical beating inflicted on "Incarcerated Scarfaces." Raekwon is indisputably at his creative beast. Unchained and uninhibited, he is assertive with his music and focused on his goals.
Trenchman
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We do this for them niggas man
Them motherfuckin murders man
All them killers and shit
Spread it out through the city of New York, You know
Take ya'll back a little something
I'm from where the ratchets blow, The bastards never go
We slam dance U.F.O.'s, Take em out they clothes
Good money, You know how we oracles with crime
My motto is the cake all promised, Little fat niggas with llamas
Big four-five in pajamas, Playin loafs
Counting off current and thoughts
How we eat, Millionaires up and sleep on the floors
I'm from where other guys will smother guys won't take no shorts
They rob brother knives, Four-fives, They ways is bosses
Who the Dons, Get money features is nonsense
I'd rather leave my money in continents
Castro arm, My beard hang hungry and strong
I'm pro black, Catch me on a plane in front
We want throw backs and blazers and Gucci kicks
Suede fronts, Razors, And Bruce Lee flicks
Lickin shots, Big knots, Police men watch
See me in the street they want they pizza box
Speakin codes, The beast made me sleep with the toads
Beats make mw psycho, My teeths is frozen
But not now I'm regulate'n politics
Travel agent nigga get Haroldo licked
I'm just stupid, Game is herbal with quick
The strawberry joint with a glass of Henn
My Memorex mind frame is off the meat
When niggas shot the plaza up and lost a sneaker
I'm verbal high to burglarize, The words is I'll
Smoke reefer in the jail where the murderers kill
Live, Lie, Can't, Survive
You get hit, Blind
Get your shit, Robbed
The lyrics to Raekwon's song Trenchman detail life in the rougher parts of New York city where violence and crime run rampant, and success is gained through ruthless means. Raekwon references "ratchets blowing," a term for a gun firing. He also talks about "good money," which is obtained through illegal means, likely drug sales or extortion. He references his "llama," a reference to a firearm, and his "big four-five in pajamas," which is a metaphor for being ready and armed at all times. Raekwon also talks about the need to watch out for those who will "smother" others and "won't take no shorts," meaning they won't back down in a confrontation.
Throughout the song, Raekwon also references fashion and material possessions. He speaks of "throwbacks and blazers and Gucci kicks" and "suede fronts, razors, and Bruce Lee flicks." These lyrics highlight the importance of image and status in the rapper's community, where success is often defined by flashy clothes and physical intimidation. Despite this, Raekwon also references his pro-black beliefs, which may be a nod to the Black Panther movement and the importance of cultural pride and unity in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Trenchman, Yeah Yeah Yeah
The song is dedicated to the gangsters or people who have fought and lived in the trenches.
We do this for them niggas man
The song is being made for the people who have given everything for their gang and have fought valiantly.
Them motherfuckin murders man
The people fighting for their gangs are the murderers who have to do things to survive and to prove themselves in their gang.
All them killers and shit
The song is being dedicated to the people who have killed in their gang and have fought for their gang's honor.
Spread it out through the city of New York, You know
The song is being shared with everyone in New York to show them what it is like to fight for a gang.
Take ya'll back a little something
The song takes the listeners back to the time when fighting for a gang was everything.
I'm from where the ratchets blow, The bastards never go
The artist is from a place where violence is frequent, and the bad people never leave, and the police are not able to control the violence.
They come through the hood and try to hustle with nines
The bad people come to the neighborhood to make some money quickly by selling drugs or guns.
We slam dance U.F.O.'s, Take em out their clothes
The gang members fight and take out other people trying to mess with the hood.
Good money, You know how we oracles with crime
The gang members make good money because they have the right skills to commit crimes without getting caught.
My motto is the cake all promised, Little fat niggas with llamas
The artist's motto is to get all the money that was promised by the gang and they are not afraid of anything or anyone.
Big four-five in pajamas, Playin loafs
The gang members have big guns that are always ready to fire and they are playing around with it.
Counting off current and thoughts
The gang members are counting their money and thinking about what to do with it.
How we eat, Millionaires up and sleep on the floors
The gang members are living life big and are millionaires, but they still sleep on the floors sometimes.
I'm from where other guys will smother guys won't take no shorts
The artist is from a place where people will do anything to get what they want without caring for others.
They rob brother knives, Four-fives, They ways is bosses
The people from the artist's neighborhood are very bossy and will rob anyone who gets in their way.
Who the Dons, Get money features is nonsense
In the artist's gang, only the bosses matter, and everyone is trying to get money.
I'd rather leave my money in continents
The artist wants to spread his money to different places and not keep it in one place.
Castro arm, My beard hang hungry and strong
The artist has a very strong beard and is ready to fight like the soldier Castro.
I'm pro black, Catch me on a plane in front
The artist is a supporter of the black movement and always tries to sit in the front of a plane.
We want throwbacks and blazers and Gucci kicks
The gang members want to wear the latest and most expensive clothes and shoes.
Suede fronts, Razors, And Bruce Lee flicks
The gang members have weapons like razors and also watch movies like Bruce Lee movies.
Lickin shots, Big knots, Police men watch
The gang members are firing shots and carry big bags of cash, and the police are watching them.
See me in the street they want they pizza box
The artist is so popular that when he is seen on the street, the police want to search him for drugs.
Speakin codes, The beast made me sleep with the toads
The artists speak in code so that the police cannot understand them, and they also sleep in bad places like tents and with toads.
Beats make mw psycho, My teeths is frozen
The artist gets very excited or gets into a trance, and his teeth are so cold and rigid.
But not now I'm regulate'n politics
The artist is now in the political game and trying to use his power for good.
Travel agent nigga get Haroldo licked
The artist's travel agent is doing everything for him and is making sure everything is right.
I'm just stupid, Game is herbal with quick
The artist is done with the foolishness and is jumping into the game quickly.
The strawberry joint with a glass of Henn
The artist is drinking Henny and smoking a strawberry joint.
My Memorex mind frame is off the meat
The artist's mind is like a Memorex, and he is constantly thinking and ready to act.
When niggas shot the plaza up and lost a sneaker
The gang members got into a fight and lost a shoe.
I'm verbal high to burglarize, The words is I'll
The artist is able to talk his way out of situations and is really good at robbing people.
Smoke reefer in the jail where the murderers kill
The artist is smoking weed and doing it in jail where murderers are also locked up.
Live, Lie, Can't, Survive
The artist is saying that to live and survive in his gang, you have to be prepared to lie.
You get hit, Blind
In his gang, if you cross someone, they will take you down without you even knowing it.
Get your shit, Robbed
The artist and his gang members are not afraid to steal from anyone if they need to.
Contributed by Grayson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hazedaze503
beat's very mobb deep-esque
@Don77Bugatti
its a remix to the song jay z - where im from
@TheAbnorm
ay this was a freestyle yo!